Apparatus for treating hydrocarbon oils



R. B. DAY. APPARATUS FOR TREATING HYDROCARBON OILS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 15, I920.

Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

R. B. DAY.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING HYDROCAHBON OILS. APPLICATION FILED 056.15.1920.

Patented Dec. 5,1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- EXP MS/O/V 0/ mam? Patented Dec. 55, ll22.

UNETD iaeaeaa ROLAND B. DAY, OF SWARTHMORE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0DAYS PETROLEUM PROCESS CO., INC., A CORPORATION OF ARIZONA.

APYARATUS FOR TREATING HYDROCARBON OILS.

Application filed December 15, 1920. Serial No. 430,87l.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROLAND B. 'DAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Swarthmore, in the county of Delaware and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Treating Hydrocarbon Oils, of which the following is aspecification. I

This invention relates to apparatus for distilling and crackinghydrocarbon oil material.

One object of the invention is toprovide an apparatus for treatingeither hydrocarbon vapors or liquids which will be capable of applyingthe required degree of heat to the particular oil material duringpassage of the oil material through the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which theworking parts cooperate to prevent the formation of deposits of carbonwithin the apparatus.

One of the features of the invention includes the continuous movement ofconveyor apparatus which provides for continuous travel ofthe oilmaterial from the cooler to the hotter parts of the apparatus, wherebymaterials requiring a low degree of heat may be cracked and likewisematerials requiring a higher degree of heat may be cracked. This featureis contrasted to those forms of apparatus in which the same degree ofheat is applied to the exterior of a container to the same degree overthe whole container.

Another feature of the invention is directed to the use of conveyormeans within tubular retorts and the cooperation of the conveyor meanswith freely movable elements in the retorts, which elements are of highheat conductivity and preferably metal balls. Steel balls have provedsatisfactory and have long life and are worn very slowly. This featureof the invention makes it necessary that the elements be free to move,roll over and tumble around as they are moved through the tubularretorts by the conveyor means, which are preferably screw conveyorssubstantially filling the bore of the conveyor retorts. By the use ofthe combined conveyor means and movable elements it has been found thatunusually satisfactory results have been obtained in cracking. heavyoils. Coke formations have been eliminated by the use of this apparatus,and any free carbon has 'moved through the tubes and tures.

subsequently passed off through the drain valve provided for residues.

Another feature of the invention includes theuse of a conveyor tubeconnected with the extreme end of the tubular '-retorts and adapted tocarry oil materials and the freely movable elements upward andreintroduce them into the end of the retorts farthest re= moved from thesource of heat, so that oil and metallic balls may travel through theapparatus for a second complete heating operatlon.

Other details and advantages of the apparatus will be described andclaimed in the 3 -3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of r thearrowand showing theposition of the retort tubes in the furnace; and

Figure 4. is a view of the retort tubes with the furnace removed,illustrating the relative directional movement of the; materials withinthe tubes and the movement of the metal balls.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts in the different figures ofthe drawings.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 1 represents the masonryconstruction, either concrete, stone or brick, but preferably firebrick, such as will stand severe tempera- A suitable stack 2 is providedfor leading off the furnace fumes, smoke, and gases of combustion. A.source of heat is provided by burners 3 located at the lower comes intodirect contact with the exterior of a plurality of longitudinallypositioned retort tubes, as will be described. I

The drawing illustrates three cracking tubes or retort tubes 5, 6 and-7, positioned one above the other and substantially horizontally.Within the tubes 5, 6 and 7 are respectivescrew conveyors 5 6 and 7,mounted on and adapted to turn with shafts 5 6 and 7", respectively.Suitable journal boxes or stuffing boxes areindicated for the respectiveshafts at 5, 6 and 7. Materials within the tube 5 are passed to theleft, referring to Figure A and are dropped through the communicatingpipe 8 into the end of the tube 6, and similarly, such materials arepassed in the opposite directionin the tube 6 and permitted to dropthrough the communicating pipe 9 to the lowermosttube 7, in which latterthe materials are again moved to the left. The direction of travel ofthe contents of the apparatus is indicated by arrows. Steel balls B arelocated between each of the flights of the conveyor screws and arefreely movable to roll or tumble during the passage of the oil and ballsthrough the retort tubes, and move from the upper to the lower tube andby means of the elevator conveyor screw are lifted from the lowermostretort tube 7 and reintroduced into the upper tube 5.. It is necessarythat the ballsBbe of high heat conductivity and that they resist theabrasive wear to which they are subjected by the action ofthe conveyorscrew in moving them through the apparatus. The use of steel balls hasproved of advantage over other known forms. Shale has been used withinthe retort tube and heavy oil added to it for cracking, but shale hasproved undesirable for continued work because it very soon pulverizesand wears down to a powder, sticking ,to the conveyor tube, and if theoil is very tarry, the shale thus combines with the oil to further chokethe retorts. Where the shale has not adhered to the screw, but has beenconverted into dry powder, such powder cannot be re-used again. Steelballs have proved of advantage because of their long life, the cleaningaction of the interior of the retort tubes and screws, and because theymay roll and tumble within the retort tubes without jamming. Any kind ofmetal balls would probably exercise the necessary cleaning action, butsteel balls combine the necessary hardness for long wear together withhigh heat conductivity.

Oil and steel ihalls B discharged from the left hand end of the tube 7drop downan wardly through the communicating pipe 10 into the tube ofthe elevator conveyor shaft 11, which latter has a conveyor screw 11mounted on a shaft 11 in a manner similar to the mounting of theconveyor screws 5*,

e5 6 and 7 A stuffing box 11 is also provided. At the lower end of theelevator conveyor screw tube 11 is a drain pipe 12 having a suitablevalve 12 and positioned substantially at the lowermost point of thesystem. Materials raised through the tube 11 are moved to a point nearthe end of the tube where they are permitted to drop down wardly throughthe communicating pipe 13 into the extreme right hand end of the upperconveyor tube 5, from which point they are again passed through theapparatus.

At the top of the system of cracking and elevator tubes is positioned alarge reservoir for oil which serves as a combined preheating chamber',reservoir and expansion chamber. This chamber is indicated by numeral14, and is provided with an oil inlet pipe 145 for the admission ofuntreated oil which may be controlled by a suitable valve, 14:". Aseries of test drain spigots 14 are mounted on the chamber at difi'erentelevatlons to determine the height of the oil therein. A pipe 15 at oneend of the chamber 14 leads downwardly from the floor of the chamber tothe cracking tube 5. At the other end ofthe chamber 14 is a' pipe 16leading to the upper end of the conveyor tube 11. At the top of theexpansion chamber. 14 are suitable pipe connections leading to necessarycondensers. At 17 is indicatedta condenser line governed by a weightedvalve. At 18 is indicated another condenser pipe which may lead to areflux con denser,not shown.

Drive means for driving the shafts 5 6 7 and 11 is provided by maindrive shaft 19 mounted in suitable bearings 19*, and driven by a pulleywheel 20, which-latter may be operated from any suitablev source ofpower. Referring to Figures land 2, it will be noted that the shaft 19moves clockwise and turns a sprocket gear 21, which in turn operates acontinuous chain 22, which latter extends over sprocket gears 1m 11, 7 6and 5, which are mounted respectively on the conveyor shafts 11 7". 6and 5 The arrows in Figure 2 indicate the relative direction of rotationof the sprocket wheels and the conveyor shafts.

Because of the incline of the conveyor shaft 11*, it is necessary toprovide a universal joint in this shaft between the sprocket wheel 11and the stuffing box 11. This joint is indicated at 11 in Figure 1, and12o the lower end of the shaft 11 is journaled in a fixed bearing 11. Atthe upper end of the conveyor elevator tube 11 is a correspondinguniversal joint supported by a fixed bearing 11 mounted on a bracketsecured to the main furnace structure. A second drive chain 22 connectsthe. opposite ends of the drive shaft 19 and the conveyor shafts 5 6",7" and 11.

The apparatus has been satisfactorily Op erated with retort tubes 5, 6,7 and 11 of six inch bore, in which a conveyor screw five andthree-quarter inches was operated. The flights on the screw were fourinches apart", and both tubes and conveyor screws were ten feet long.pansio-n chamber 14 circulated downward to the different tubes and someof the oil and the balls were taken from the lowermost tube andreintroduced into the upper tube. The blast of flame from the burners 3provided a temperature ranging from about 1000 F. within the lower tubeto 750 F. within the lower tube. The temperature at the upper tube wasabout 200 F. less than in the lower tube, and was approximately 800 F.when the lowertube was at 1000, and about 550 F. when the lower tube wasabout 750 F. The difference in temperature between the upper and lowertubes is accounted for inpart by the distance from the source of heatand by the fact that fresh oil is introduced into the'upper retort tube.This gradual heating has proved. advantageous because by this meansevery particle of oil is at some time within its travel subjected t6thedegree of temperature best suited for cracking it. Steel balls oneinch in diameter have proved serviceable in this apparat'yus.

The apparatus has been successfully operated at .a maximum temperatureof 850 F. in the lower parts of the apparatus, and at a pressure ofabout 75 pounds to the square inch. Remarkably satisfactory yields ofgasolene and low boiling hydrocarbons have been obtained by using theapparatus at the above temperature and pressure. Oil wasintroduced fromtime to time into the expansion chamber, andwithdrawn occasionallythrough the pipe 12 to remove heavy residues, and substantiallycontinuously through'the vapor lines located at the top of the expansionchamber. The apfaratus has proved remarkably free from car on depositsand this may be ascribed in part to the cleaning action of the ballswithin the apparatus and to their freely movable rolling or tumblingmovement,-

which makes it possible for them to engage the surface of the conveyortube without travelling in any one fixed path.

The .combined cleaning and travelling movement caused by the cooperationof the conveyor screw with the steel balls will operate in the samemanner on materlals undergoing treatment whether they be liquid, liquidcontaining foreign material such'as earth, or if the'material is in partvapor or gases. Heavier materials will be withdrawn through the pipe 12and the lighter materials will bewithdrawn from the top of the expansionchamber 14 as vapors or gases.

As hereinbefore stated, the use of steel balls is preferable, althoughballsof other Oil introduced into the extherein.

2. Apparatus for treating hydrocarbon materials comprising a tubulartreatment chamber, means for heating said chamber,

a plurality of cleaner elements in said chamber freely movable therein,conveyor means within said tubular chamber for moving said cleanerelements lengthwise thereof, and means to remove said cleaner elementsfrom one end of said chamber and introduce them into the opposite endthereof, said cleaner elements being moved within said chamberlengthwise thereof but free to roll or tumble therein.

3. Apparatus for treating hydrocarbon materials comprising a.tubulartreatment chamber, means for heating said chamber, a plurality ofcleaner elements of high heat conductivity in said chamber freelymovable therein, and conveyor means within said chamber for moving saidcleaner elements lengthwise of said chamber.

4. Apparatus for treating hydrocarbon materials comprising a tubulartreatment chamber, means for heating said chamber, a plurality of metalball cleaner elements in said chamber freely movable therein, and

conveyer means within said chamber for said chamber.

5. Apparatus for treating hydrocarbon Ht materials comprising a tubulartreatment chamber, means for heating said chamber,

a plurality of metal ball cleaner elements in said chamber freelymovable therein, and

a screw conveyor within said tubular chamher for moving said metal ballcleaner elements lengthwise of said chamber.

- 6. Apparatus for treating hydrocarbon; materials comprising aplurality of substantially horizontal tubular treatment cham- 2a berspositioned at different levels adjacent chambers communicating with eachother by means of a first passageway, means for heating said chambers,an elevator tube constituting a second passageway connectmg the lowerand upper chambers, and con veyor means in said elevator tube forcarrying. materials from said lower chamber to said upper chamber.

7. Apparatus. for treating hydrocarbon 13o materials comprising aplurality of tubular treatment chambers positioned at different levelsand communicating with each other, means for heating said chambers, aplurality of freely movable cleaner elements in said chambers, conveyormeans in each of said chambers for moving said cleaner elementslengthwise of said chambers and permitting said elements to move to thenext lower chamber, and conveyor means for} moving cleaner elementsdischarged from the lower chamber and, reintroducing them into the upperchamber.

8. Apparatus for treating hydrocarbon materials comprising a pluralityof tubular treatment chambers positioned at different levels andcommunicating with each other, means for heating said chambers, aplurality of metal ball cleaner elements in said'chambers and freelymovable therein, a screw conveyor in each of said chambers for movingsaid ball cleaner elements lengthwise thereof and permitting saidelements tomove to the next lower chamber, and screw conveyor means formoving said ball cleaner elements discharged from the lower chamber andreintroducing them into the upper chamber.

9. Apparatus for treating hydrocarbon materials comprising a pluralityof tubular treatment chambers positioned at different levels, acommunicating pipe at one end of the upper chamber leading from thebottom thereof into the top of the adjacent end of the second chambernext below, a communicating pipe at the opposite end of said, secondchamber leading from the bottom thereof into the top of the adjacent endof the third chamber next below, a plurality of freely movable metalcleaner elements in said chambers, conveyor means in each of saidchambers for moving said cleaner elements lengthwise of said chambersand permitting said cleaner elements to move by gravity through saidcommunicating pipes to the next lower chambers, an elevator conveyortube communicating with the lower and the upper chambers, conveyor meansin said elevator conveyor tube for carrying said cleaner elements fromthe discharge end of the lower chamber and introducing said elementsinto said upper chamber, and heating means for said chambers andelevator tube.

10. Apparatus for treating hydrocarbon materials comprising a pluralityof tubular treatment chambers positioned at different levels, acommunicating pipe at one end of the upper chamber leading from thebottom thereof into the top of the adjacent end of the second chambernext below, a communicating pipe at the opposite end of said secondchamber leading from the bottom thereof into the top of the adjacent endof the third chamber next below, a plurality of freely movable metalcleaner elements in said chambers, conveyor means in each 01 saidchambers for moving said cleaner elements lengthwise of said chambersand permitting said cleaner elements to move by gravity through saidcommunicating pipes to the next lower chambers, an elevator conveyortube communicating with the lower and the upper chambers, conveyor meansin said elevator conveyor tube for carrying said cleaner elements fromthe discharge end of the lower chamber and introducing said elementsinto said upper chamber, an expansion chamber connected to said upperchamber, and heating means for said apparatus including a furnacestructure enclosing said chambers.

11. Apparatus for treating hydrocarbon materialsv comprising a pluralityof tubular treatment chambers positioned at different levels, acommunicating pipe at one end of the upper chamber leading. from thebottom thereof into the top of theadjacent end of the second chambernext below, a communicating pipe at the opposite end of said secondchamber leading from the bottom thereof into the top of the adjacent endof the third chamber next below, a plurality of freely movable metalcleaner elements in said chambers, conveyor means in each of saidchambers for moving said cleaner elements lengthwise of said chambersand permitting said cleaner elements to move by gravity through saidcommunicating pipes to the next lower chambers, an elevator conveyortube communicating with the lower and the upper chambers, conveyor meansin said elevator conveyor tube for o carrying said cleaner elements fromthe dischargeend of the lower chamber and introducing said elements intosaid upper chamber, and heating means'for said chambers and elevatortube, the conveyormeans in ad jacent chambers being arranged to movesaid elements in opposite direction.

In testimony whereof I afiix m si nature.

RULAND AY.

